Palms Springs: Fisherman's Market and Grill

In spite of the new and modern foodie phenomena gathering like desert fauna in Palm Springs, I can’t help but be concerned with considering a downtown establishment: Will this be a tourist trap?

A fish market in the desert seemed low risk for that: What crazy will say, “When in Palm Springs, I just have to have the clam chowder!”
And so Palm Spring’s fish market is your basic seafare: “Pick your fish and we’ll cook it for you. Fish and chips, we got that. Love affair with lobster? We got that too.”

With that in mind, there isn’t much that can go wrong so long as the fish is fresh. And initial reports would indicate that it is steady sailing at the fish market.

While not visually groundbreaking, plates are generous and tasty. The fish and chips is available in halibut, cod, or Alaskan pollock and in 2 or 3 piece offerings, ranging from 11 to 17 dollars.

In addition to fish and chips, the market and grill boasts a broad array of chalkboard specials, charbroiled or Boston grilled, but the market’s steak and lobster appeared to be the dish going out the most.

For 30 dollars the fish market offers a rock lobster tail with a prime rib steak and the usual sides of slaw, rice, or fries. The lobster tail was good - not great - in spite of its tender texture.

Since the market’s not facing the strip, it keeps the crowds manageable and the ambience delectable. Service is fast, the food reasonably affordable.
Fisherman’s Market & Grill
235 South Indian Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA 92262

http://www.fishermans.com

SD Food Trucks: God Save the Cuisine and Urban Eats

A fully materialized San Diego food truck scene equals a silver lined workday for many nine to fivers. Trucks abound in business areas surrounding La Jolla and Sorrento Valley. Two of the trucks making these routes include locally sourced Urban Eats and God Save the Cuisine.

Billing itself as “Fresh affordable fare,” Urban Eats keeps their menu simple, with burgers, tacos, salads, and other sandwiches. They fulfill such a menu with fresh and well presented ingredients. Sandwiches are served with Bibb, not iceberg lettuce. Meats are generously seasoned, and sandwiches tastefully sauced.

Urban Eats’ porchetta sandwich is essentially their burger done with a good hunk of pork belly. Though it’s a fun and unique food truck dish, the seemingly standard burger is the clear winner between the two.
With entree prices ranging from $7-9 dollars, Urban Eats is a reasonable value if you take into account their use of fine, local ingredients.

Its whereabouts can be found at: http://myurbaneats.com


For a more unique fare, there is the Brit-fluenced God Save the Cuisine truck. And yes, there are really British people cooking behind the window.

Though its menu choices are comparable to Urban Eats - burger, tacos, wraps - the obvious handheld options, GSTC’s distinctly British line-up is both fresh and resourceful, as locally sourced ingredient often overlap into other dishes.


Cooking with sustainable and organic proteins, as well as local sourced veggies from Suzie’s Farm, GSTC food is uniquely un-truck-like in taste.

You’ll be far pressed to find a lighter and flakier fish as the one served in the fish and chips taco.

Food is assertively sauced with mostly truckmade dressings, and creatively accented with dried cranberries, the plumpest of capers, and those things that resemble miniature watermelons? Crisp tiny cucumbers!

Above: A tender mako fish filet is served on a warm flatbread. Below: Both spicy and juicy, the spiced lamb balances smartly with the cool crunch of fresh vegetables.

GSTC’s food, which ranges from 8-9 dollars, is arguably smaller than Urban Eats’ offerings, but makes up for it in taste and creativity.

Find when the British are coming at www.godsavethecuisine.com